ESL Lesson: Possessive Nouns

Hello! This blog post is about helping ESL learners better understand possessive nouns. What are possessive nouns? Remember that nouns are any people, places, things, animals, ideas or events. When any noun has or is related to something else, then the possessive is used. Possessive nouns require a punctuation mark called the apostrophe. The apostrophe looks like this
'
Now, here are ways the apostrophe is used to make a noun into a possessive noun.

We use the possessive 's with a person to talk about relatives and possessions.

Examples:
She is Omar's sister.
I am Jane's oldest uncle.
Bobby's pet dog is named Rover.
Fritz's car broke down on the highway.

We also use the possessive 's with irregular plural nouns: men, women, children, people, etc.
Examples:

Here are my children's rooms.
Those women's jewelry look really shiny and pretty.
The people's attitude on the issue changed over time.


We use the possessive s' with regular plural nouns.

Examples:
Dr. Janet Smith is my parents' colleague at the university.

The dogs' excitement increased once they reached the park.
The cats' collars are too tight around their necks.

When a noun ends with the letter s, we simply add an apostrophe ' to the end of the noun.

Examples:

James' car is a red convertible. 

This book is Russ'.

Francois' hat is brown, wool and very sharp-looking. 

Do you understand possessive nouns better? Share your questions, comments or suggestions in the comment section. Stay tuned for more ESL advice including possessive pronouns on this blog. If you are interested in personal, one-on-one tutoring in ESL or other subjects, contact Kingston University USA. Find out how you can live locally and learn globally!

Kingston University USA

Live Locally. Learn Globally.

Official Website

Facebook Page

Twitter

Youtube

ESL Practice: Singular and Plural Nouns

Hello ESL learners! 
Now that we have been introduced to the concepts of singular and plural nouns, let us practice these concepts. Try to fill in some of the following sentences with the right plural or singular form of the noun provided before the sentence. The answers will be at the end of the blog post.

1. Noun: Glove

Laura is wearing two black ______ right now.

2. Noun: Hat

That is a sharp looking _____ you are wearing.

3. Noun: Fish

There are over forty ____ in the aquarium.

4. Noun: Box

Pack your clothes away in the four ______ over there.

5. Noun: Child

The classroom was filled with over thirty _____.

6. Noun: Month

I have one ______ to complete my business project for school.

7. Noun: Woman

The two ______ walked to the office building to attend a business seminar.

8. Noun: Loaf

I bought three ______ of bread today at the grocery store.

9. Noun: Car

The ____ were slow moving today on the highway.

10. Noun: Dog

The lone ____ chased a bird in the park today. 

Can you make the following singular nouns plural?

1. Bus

2. Teacher

3. Book

4. Kiss

5. Hand

6. Foot

7. Sheep

Can you name the singular form of the following nouns?

1. Mice

2. Cities

3. Men

4. Toys

5. Trees

Answers:

Fill- in-the-blank

1. gloves

2. hat

3. fish

4. boxes

5. children

6. month

7. women

8. loaves

9. cars

10. dog

Can you make the following singular nouns plural?

1. Buses

2. Teachers

3. Books

4. Kisses

5. Hands

6. Feet

7. Sheep

Can you name the singular form of the following nouns?

1. Mouse

2. City

3. Man

4. Toy

5. Tree

Do you have any questions or comments about this or any other ESL subject? Leave them in the comment section and we will answer them. If you want individual tutoring and help in learning English, contact Kingston University USA today!

Kingston University USA
Live Locally. Learn Globally.
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter
Youtube

English Language Courses at Kingston University USA

English Language Courses at Kingston University USA

Are you learning the English language? Have you considered enrolling in English language courses at Kingston University USA? All English Courses at Kingston University USA are self-contained and designed by English speaking tutors to help you learn our language regardless of what your current level is. You will take a test and then be guided to select the learning courses that are especially designed for your current level. The courses are designed with 12 units including audio, slides, worksheets and unique to Kingston University, videos of USA students in an everyday setting demonstrating the lesson to be taught.

Tutors will help you select your courses:

Basic English 101

Intermediate English 102

Advanced English 103  

All courses use examples that demonstrate getting a job. Job interviews, writing Business letters, the difference between Business English and Casual English, and many more lessons help to prepare you for the work environment while teaching you English 24/7 on YOUR TIME.

100 Basic English:

Learn the basics of the spoken American English language taught by American speakers videotaped in everyday settings. There are twelve lessons and each one includes a slide presentation, worksheet, audio component, video tapes of English used in everyday life.  Lessons 1-3 concentrate on the foundation of the spoken language.  Lessons 4-6 build upon the sound foundation into the learning of commonly used terms. This is followed by lessons 6-12 which increase the new learner’s skills in conversational and written situations. An audio component is a part of each unit.

 

102 Intermediate English: 

This course assumes that the speaker has a mastery of Basic English and begins with emphasis on the written word. There are 12 lessons and each one includes a slide presentation, worksheet, audio component, video tapes of English used in everyday life.  An emphasis of English in the workplace adds to the everyday language experience.

103 Advanced English: 

This course assumes that the speaker has a mastery of Intermediate English and begins with emphasis on the Business Communication. There are 12 lessons and each one includes a slide presentation, worksheet, audio component, video tapes of English used in everyday life.  An emphasis of formal English as it applies in more structured environments adds to the everyday language experience.

Contact Kingston University USA to find out more about enrolling in an English language course. You will discover that you can live locally and learn globally no matter what your current English abilities are!!!

Kingston University USA
Live Locally. Learn Globally.
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter
Youtube

Happy Groundhog Day!

Today is February 2nd, 2012. In the United States of America and Canada, the second day of February is called Groundhog Day. It marks six weeks until the end of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.* 


According to legend, if a groundhog sees his shadow on the morning of February 2nd, then the winter weather will continue for six more weeks; if not, spring may arrive early. Groundhog Day festivals are celebrated in Pennsylvania in the USA and Ontario in Canada featuring Punxsutawney Phil and Wiarton Willie as the most famous groundhogs. Scientist Neil degrasse Tyson quipped* that today is "evidence that Weather Forecasters still haven't convinced people that they know what they're talking about." 


Does your region or culture feature similar legends?? What do you think of Groundhog Day? Share your thoughts with us!

Vocabulary terms:
hemisphere: a term used for one of the planet's halves. There are northern, southern, eastern and western hemispheres.
groundhog: a large rodent related to ground squirrels such as the beaver.
quip: to make a witty, clever or joking remark

News: Online Classes as a New Path to Learning

More and more people are noting the rise and prominence of online classes across the globe. From renown traditional universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States and Cambridge in the United Kingdom to online universities such as Kingston University USA, institutions are taking advantage of digital technology and education tools in their efforts to help people increase their knowledge and skills in this globalized knowledge economy.

Writers like Emily Wang have noted that increases in tuition fees at traditional university programs have made the convenient and less expensive online programs even more attractive to students. She has written an article for The Daily Trojan called "Online Education Provides an Alternative." You can view it here:

Online Education Provides an Alternative

With college tuition continuing to rise with no guarantee for jobs after graduation, some prospective college students might choose alternative paths to education.

Because of the increase in costs, enrolling for a postsecondary education online has become an attractive option — not a last resort.

What do you think of this growing trend? Do you think online education opens doors and creates new opportunities for many people? Have you taken advantage of this new alternative? There are many programs and courses available at Kingston University to help students succeed at university or learn new skills such as business ethics and English as a second language. Contact Kingston University USA today to find out more about how you can live locally and learn globally.


Kingston University USA
Live Locally. Learn Globally.
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter
Youtube

Today is Digital Learning Day!

With all the advancements in computers and the internet as well as their interconnectedness with all of the parts of society, it is no wonder we live in an era known as the Digital Age. Education is no exception in the digitalizing of society. Both traditional and distance learning programs are using new tools online to help students learn more effectively and conveniently. We here at Kingston University USA know firsthand that motivating, personalized instruction to a global classroom can greatly improve a student's understanding of a subject and the world.

Today is Digital Learning Day, which commemorates the merging of education and learning in general with the transforming force of the internet and global communication. Educators, learners and their family and friends from around the world are participating online and in-person to engage in Digital Learning Day. Esther Wojicki of the Huffington Post has published an article on today's events. Learn more by reading it below:

Digital Learning Day Is Happening Today

Want to know how we can improve our schools using technology? Want to know how your son/daughter's education can be more effective? Today is the day to watch Digital Learning Day. It is happening all day.
You can see teachers and students talking about what works in the classroom using technology. It is being broadcast on the website Digital Learning Day.Today at 1 p.m. EST, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will be speaking at a Town Hall Meeting. Anyone can pose a question through the website.

What do you think of digital learning? Have you heard of Digital Learning Day?  Share your comments or questions about this subject below!

Kingston University USA
Live Locally. Learn Globally.
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter
Youtube

Welcome to Our Blog

Hello and welcome to our first blog entry. Kingston University USA offers many different distance learning programs and services for students across the world to meet their educational and learning goals. This blog will offer background information on many of the subjects and courses our instructors teach such as business management, S.A.T. preparation and E.S.L. (English as a Second Language). Additionally, you can be the first to discover promotions through our official Facebook page as well as giving your ideas, questions, concerns and opinions directly to us! Stay tuned for more information, knowledge and services that will allow you to live locally and learn globally.

Kingston University USA
Live Locally. Learn Globally.
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter
Youtube